First commercial transits in Panama Canal in 2015

At a cost of $5.25 billion, the expansion of the Panama Canal is 50 percent complete, but at least six months behind its eight-year project time schedule.

“We estimate that, based on the progress, we can begin commercial transits mid-2015,” said the canal's administrator, Jorge Quijano.

The objectives of the expansion project are to ensure that the canal remains competitive, increase its capacity to permit larger vessels, reduce the freshwater consumed in its operation, and increase safety and efficiency, as well as sustain growth in the tonnage transiting the canal and in the profitability of the PCA.

Source: Engineering News